Tax collections, a measure of sales activity, continue to increase in Mesa County.

Mesa County reported collecting more than $3.8 million in sales tax in August, a
16 percent increase over the same month last year.

The county also collected nearly $400,000 in use taxes — almost all of it on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county. That’s a 13.5 percent increase over last year.

August collections reflect July sales.

For Mesa County, combined sales and use tax collections in August were up more nearly $576,000 and 15.7 percent over the same month a year ago.

Tax collections on retail sales topped $1.25 million, a 10.6 percent increase over a year ago. Collections rose in nearly every category, including a 31.3 percent increase in clothing and 30.7 percent increase in health and personal care products. Collections on internet sales rose 5.6 percent.

Sales tax collections also increased on a year-over-year basis 36.7 percent on construction materials, 29.4 percent on home improvements and 25.7 percent on hotel stays and restaurant meals.

Through the first eight months of 2021, Mesa County collected a total of nearly $31.7 million in sales and use taxes. That’s an increase of more than $5.7 million and
22.2 percent over the same span in 2020. Sales tax collections rose 21 percent. Use tax collections increased 36.2 percent.

County tax collections on retail sales exceeded $10.3 million through the first eight months of 2021, a  21.2 percent gain compared to the same span last year. Tax collections rose 46.4 percent on clothing, 40.2 percent on health and personal care products and 35 percent on internet sales.

Sales tax collections rose 36.3 percent on construction materials 33.7 percent on home improvements and 32.3 percent on hotel stays and restaurant meals. Collections declined 49.4 percent in the oil and natural gas category and 10.9 percent in the telecommunications category.